Sushruta Samhita –

The Ancient Surgical Treatise

1. Human Dissection & Anatomy:

Susruta was the first medical man in the ancient world advocated and brought into practice the dissection of the human cadaver by students of surgery. “ This certainly was the oldest lesson in dissection known to history”. Although the procedure adopted by him was crude, the very idea that in 1000 BC. Practical anatomical study was considered important. It is by itself a most noteworthy contribution of Susruta. His description of different parts of the body such as the skin, muscles, bones, blood vessels, tissues, special spots of surgical importance etc. reflect the sound knowledge of the surgeons of those days.

2. Surgical Techniques & Procedures:

Susruta describes eight kinds of surgical techniques which have withstood the test of time. All operative manoeuvres carried out by the present day surgeon involves one or more of these techniques only and not anything beyond these.Susruta is the first person to evolve and introduce Experimental surgery, for training students. This came to vogue in western countries only after 17th cent AD.

Susruta’s  division of surgical activity into three parts viz-preparative, operative and post-operative-is based on sound scientific principles. His description of surgical wound , procedure of treating it, care and management of the wounded are exemplary. Para-surgical methods such as cauterisation, blood letting etc. were being carried out to minimize the risk of surgery.

Susruta was the pioneer in fabricating surgical instruments. His methods of naming the instruments on resemblance of face of many animals and birds is being adopted even now. He is the first to introduce tubular instruments for diagnosis of diseases, which are considered as forerunners of “endoscopic instruments”, of the present day. He has described the merits and demerits of all instruments, their proper maintenance and correct method of use etc. which reflect his expertise.

3. Foreign body removal and battle field surgery :

Susruta’s knowledge of accidental wounds caused by weapons and other foreign bodies, methods of removing these and treating the wounded in the battlefield were the most appropriate. Though some of the surgical feats done in the battle field appear to be crude in the eyes of the present day surgeons, these were the ideal methods in the battle field of those days.

4. Reconstructive Surgery:

• Most significant contribution of Susruta is in the field of reconstructive surgery (plastic surgery) . His method of reconstructing multilated nose ( rhinoplasty) ear (otoplasty) and lip (oroplasty) are the most ingenious methods.
• Among these Susruta’s methods of rhinoplasty was highly appreciated and adopted by surgeons of western countries under the name “ Indian method”during the 18th cent AD. It was hailed as the greatest scientific achievement of ancient India.

5. Special surgery:

Susruta has described surgical treatment for piles and fistula. Urinary calculus (anorectal surgery). Obstructed and dead foetus (obstetrical surgery including caesarean section), intestinal obstruction and injury to abdominal viscera (laparotomy). fractures, and diseases of the eyes (ophthalmic surgery) and many more.

6. Evolution & Classification of Diseases

Susruta knowledge extended even to other aspects of medical science. He has described the dosas, dhatus, ojas, mala etc. both in their normal and abnormal aspects, causes of diseases and their evolution in six stages, a comprehensive classification of all diseases affecting man, methods to prevent diseases  and preserve health etc. With such wonderful achievements in the domain of surgery, Susruta is now- a-days called the “ Father of Surgery”. But strictly speaking this honour should go to this preceptor, Divodasa, since Susruta is only a mouthpiece of his master.